Anterior spinal artery 2772951 220443032 2008-06-19T21:55:58Z Tursiops 7240605 +it: {{Infobox Artery | Name = {{PAGENAME}} | Latin = arteria spinalis anterior | GraySubject = 148 | Image = Circle of Willis en.svg | Caption = Arteries of the [[brain]], [[brain stem]] and upper [[spinal cord]] ('''anterior spinal artery''' at bottom) | Image2 = Gray770-vessels.png | Caption2 = 1: posterior spinal vein<BR>2: anterior spinal vein<BR>3: posterolateral spinal vein<BR>4: radicular (or segmental medullary) vein<BR>5: posterior spinal arteries<BR>6: anterior spinal artery<BR>7: radicular (or segmental medullary) artery | BranchFrom = [[vertebral artery|vertebral arteries]] | BranchTo = | Vein = [[anterior spinal veins]] | Supplies = | MeshName = | MeshNumber = | DorlandsPre = a_61 | DorlandsSuf = 12156004 | }} In [[human anatomy]], the '''anterior spinal artery''' is the [[blood vessel]] that supplies the anterior portion of the [[spinal cord]]. It arises from branches of the [[vertebral artery|vertebral arteries]] and is supplied by the [[anterior segmental medullary artery|anterior segmental medullary arteries]], including the [[artery of Adamkiewicz]], and courses along the anterior aspect of the spinal cord. ==Path== The anterior spinal artery is a small branch, which arises near the termination of the vertebral, and, descending in front of the [[medulla oblongata]], unites with its fellow of the opposite side at the level of the [[foramen magnum]]. One of these vessels is usually larger than the other, but occasionally they are about equal in size. The single trunk, thus formed, descends on the front of the [[medulla spinalis]], and is reinforced by a succession of small branches which enter the [[vertebral canal]] through the [[intervertebral foramina]]; these branches are derived from the [[vertebral artery]] and the [[ascending cervical artery]] of the [[inferior thyroid artery]] in the neck; from the [[intercostal arteries]] in the [[thorax]]; and from the [[lumbar artery]], [[iliolumbar artery]] and [[lateral sacral arteries]] in the [[abdomen]] and [[pelvis]]. They unite, by means of ascending and descending branches, to form a single [[anterior median artery]], which extend as far as the lower part of the medulla spinalis, and is continued as a slender twig on the [[filum terminale]]. This vessel is placed in the [[pia mater]] along the [[anterior median fissure]]; it supplies that membrane, and the substance of the medulla spinalis, and sends off branches at its lower part to be distributed to the cauda equina. ==Disorders== Disruption of the anterior spinal cord leads to bilateral disruption of the [[corticospinal tract]], causing motor deficits, and bilateral disruption of the [[spinothalamic tract]], causing sensory deficits in the form of pain/temperature sense loss. See also [[Medial medullary syndrome]] ==See also== * [[Anterior spinal artery syndrome]] ==Additional images== [[Image:Arteries_beneath_brain.png|thumb|center|500px|The arteries of the base of the brain. Anterior spinal artery at bottom.]] ==External links== *Yoshioka K, Niinuma H, Ohira A, Nasu K, Kawakami T, Sasaki M, Kawazoe K. MR angiography and CT angiography of the artery of Adamkiewicz: noninvasive preoperative assessment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Radiographics. 2003 Sep-Oct;23(5):1215-25. PMID 12975511 [http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/content/figsonly/23/5/1215 Full Text] *[http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/content/vol23/issue5/images/large/g03se12c1a.jpeg Drawing of the anterior spinal artery] *[http://www.frca.co.uk/images/spinal-cord4.jpg Horizontal view of blood supply to the spinal cord] * {{RocheLexicon|13048.000-1}} * [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=spinalcord.figgrp.220 Diagram] at nih.gov {{Gray's}} {{Arteries of head and neck}} [[Category:Arteries]] [[de:Arteria spinalis anterior]] [[it:Arteria spinale anteriore]] [[la:Arteria spinalis anterior]] [[nds:Arteria spinalis anterior]]